Interview with an Illustrator: L i v i G o s l i n g

Interview with an Illustrator : L I V I   G O S L I N G

Hello everyone and congratulations to YOU because today you get to meet Livi Gosling!  Livi is a quick-witted, baking-loving, uber talented Illustrator from Hertfordshire.  In case you didn't know, Hertfordshire is a County in southern England just north of Greater London.   I should've asked Livi to draw a map since it happens to be one of her specialties.   Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was set there.  Being the diligent researcher I am - I watched the Kiera Knightly movie version for the 36th time last night.  (When the hubs asked if I'd take the dog out,  I told him "it'd be most inconvenient since I have sworn to loathe him for all eternity."  Chuckle...  He didn't get it.  But I digress...)

Livi went to Falmouth University in Cornwall where she earned a degree in Illustration.  I first discovered Livi on Jolly Edition, one of the best custom stationery companies out there.  I've been stalking her work ever since.  I love so many things about her illustrations, but perhaps what I love most is how organic they are.  They're rich in color, detail and feeling yet Livi manages to maintain a rawness in her artwork.   There emanates a sense of nostalgia in her paintings, and each one looks as if it was meticulously and thoughtfully created over a significant span of time (probably because it was).

In addition to being a full-time Illustrator, Livi is quite the foodie.  Just check out her Instagram!  She loves to cook and bake and hopes to one day illustrate a cookbook.  I hope so too.  Scroll down to read our Interview!

Livi's Clients: Australian Traveller - Ampersands Publishing - Doodle Plate - Fool Magazine - Gosling Creative - Jamie Magazine - Jolly Edition - London Food Essentials - Lonely Planet - Lussmann's Restaurant - Luton Hoo Kids Book Festival - Nixon Design - Oh Comely - St Aubyn Estate Holidays - Spicer & Cole - Taproot Magazine - Tesco - Tresco Island - UCLH Galleries - Verily Magazine - Voyeur Magazine: Virgin Australia - Zizzi

How did you get started in illustration?

I didn’t really know that illustration was a career option until I did my foundation course at a local college. It was a real eye opener for me.  I felt like I’d found something that could offer a real career. I also discovered that I was truly diabolical at pottery.

What are three words to describe your art? 

Painterly, inky & tactile.

Walk us through your typical day.

I’m lucky enough to now work in the same studio as my boyfriend (Josh Hurley, illustrator and digital designer) and it’s up to me to drive us to the studio so he’s there at 9am sharp. I’m pretty rubbish in the mornings so I’m grateful for him getting me caffeinated and out the front door. He’s excellent.

Once in the studio, I usually wake up with another cuppa and go through my emails. Then it’s just spending the day working on commissions. Inking in the morning, Photoshop in the afternoon. I tend to work until 5.30pm, but recently I’ve been staying later. I’m working on several hundred illustrations for a big publishing commission. Pretty huge.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of your illustration process? 

Ummm, my least favourite part is probably when the client asks for changes and alterations that I don’t agree with. But that comes with the job, I get over it pretty quickly. My favourite part is when an exciting commission comes in and I get such a buzz. They don’t always work out but the adrenalin rush is always the same.

It sucks when I have to miss out on socialising because I’m working weekends but I know my friends understand. And at the end of the day, I feel super lucky to get to draw for a living.

What is your favorite size “canvas” to work with and why? 

I always work on A3 cartridge paper. Nothing too fancy. It’s easy to draw and ink onto, and it isn’t too pricey!


What is something new you’ve recently learned about your craft? 

Wacom tablets are bloody great.

What are three important qualities an illustrator must have to succeed? 

Ambition, self-belief, persistence.

What is the most important thing aspiring artists can do in order to get their artwork discovered? 

Set yourself commercial projects, utilise social media. Keep busy. 

Any tips on finding/applying for commercial projects - especially for those whom lack a formal art education?

I think a portfolio usually speaks for itself.  If you have a strong body of work then your education background should be irrelevant.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an illustrator and how did you overcome it? 

Hmmm… Probably pricing. When you’re starting out you really don’t know where to begin when giving a quote. I’m better at pricing now (after a little trial and error.)

What advice would you give to new ETSY artists with respect to pricing their work?

I would suggest doing some serious research into other illustrators who sell similar products.  Consider how long each piece takes you to make and don't be afraid to price appropriately.

You draw lots of fun maps. Have you been to all of the places you’ve drawn? 

Oh I wish! After working on a map of Tresco (in the Scilly isles), I holidayed on the island and it was the best week of my life. It’s such a beautiful place. My boyfriend and I pretty much had the whole island to ourselves. We ate a lot of clotted cream.

If you could go anywhere and draw anything – all expenses paid – where would you go and what would you draw? 

Oh New Zealand. Without a doubt. It looks so beautiful. I’ve wanted to go there since I was at school (I was a huge Lord of the Rings fan). I’d walk in the mountains, draw the landscapes, take way too many photos and listen to all the amazing accents all day long.

Besides illustrating, what else are you passionate about? 

Regular mealtimes.

What is success to you? 

After having a part-time job for three years since graduating, I went full-time last October and haven’t looked back.

What are three websites you visit on a regular basis? 

Twitter and Etsy all the time. I’m trying to understand Pinterest at the moment, but all the tasty looking recipes distract me. Everyone says I’d love it

Who or what has been the single biggest influence on your way of thinking? 

My father. He’s a creative person too and started his own Graphic Design company when I was a tiny baby. He works incredibly hard, as does my mum. I have wonderful parents. They’ve always encouraged me to be an illustrator and I am eternally grateful for that.

What is your personal motto? 

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” Virginia Woolf.

Who is another artist you think we should check out? 

Eleanor Taylor. Her work for the NYT is really lovely.

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A GIGANTIC thank you to Livi for taking time to do this interview despite her crazy busy schedule!  I hope everyone finds her as charming, witty and talented as I do!  To view all of Livi's art, check out her website and ETSY shop.  And be sure to follow Livi on Instagram and Twitter too!  Thanks for stopping by!

Studio Spotlight No. 3 - Erin

Hey everybody!  Remember Erin Vaughan?  You met her a few months in Interview with an Illustrator and saw some of her beau-tree-ful artwork!  Erin continues to create pieces inspired by her love of nature and outdoor adventures.   She was recently interviewed and featured in She-Explores - a virtual space showcasing women who travel, create, uplift and find beauty all around them!  

Erin was also selected to showcase all of her original National Park Illustrations in a Solo Exhibition at Gallery de Fox in downtown Santa Ana!  The opening will run from March 5th to 25th.   Congrats Erin!

Read below to learn more about where she creates her masterpieces and what she considers studio "necessities."  :-p

EV: My studio is in half of my garage and is pretty small so every corner is utilized. I have a green table bench area that holds a lot of my supplies and offers me a place to work by my window. Above that area is a bunch of ceiling storage for canvases, frames, packaging supplies, and craft show supplies/furniture. I have a main large desk that is actually an Ikea dining room table.  It takes up a lot of space but allows me to really spread out when I’m working on a variety of projects. I try to keep my large white wall filled with different artwork for inspiration.



EV: My white draw set holds a lot of my packaging materials such as clear cello bags and chip board.  It’s nice having all of that packed away into a clean and convenient piece of furniture. The couch in the corner of my studio has become a bit of a storage unit for all of my cardboard backing [for Etsy orders].

EV: My little tray holds all my drawing and paintings supplies. I’ve got my little wooden box that holds my gouache paints (from a friend who brought it home from Morocco), my mason jars of brushes and extra paint tubes, and my little vintage tin that holds my pencils, erasers and pens.



EV: I always need inspiration on my wall-hanging corkboards. Overtime I add to them and take things away based on what I’m feeling inspired by.  My light box sits near one of my studio desks. I use that pretty often when I have to do transfer techniques with layers, hand lettering or sign painting.



EV: Part of my work is spent on the computer doing a variety of things such as scanning and editing artwork, research, emailing, order tracking and Etsy upkeep. The main essentials for my computer space are a cup of coffee and my Spotify playlists :)

EV: Because my studio is in the garage, my artwork and paper goods cannot be kept there because of the humidity and weather conditions.  I keep all of my paper goods in this wooden hutch inside my house. I spend a lot of time packaging and doing shop/inventory management in this space. My dog Maddy is a frequent visitor. I love having all of the different shelves that allow me to separate my prints so it’s easier to stay organized!

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Erin - you are a lovely, kind and creative soul!  I'm so grateful I had the chance to interview you and learn from a fellow artist.  THANK YOU!  Readers, you can see more of Erin's artwork on her Etsy shop.   Thanks for stopping by!

Pepper's Perpetual Birthday Calendar!

Hi everyone!  Sorry for the prolonged absence.  I've been hard at work on Pepper's perpetual/birthday calendar.  All of the illustrations are complete.  I'm nearly done with the final touches on the computer and I've just started to research binding options.  This has truly been a LABOR OF LOVE - a six-month labor of love!  Thanks to all of Pepper's fans for your continuous support and encouragement.  Here's a sneak peak!   :)

Giveaway 2.0

Yesterday on Insta, I shared one of my favorite Christmas traditions... picking out the Christmas tree! I'm not talking about parking lots or sidewalks (though that's fun too).  I'm talking about the wild!    I remember the time my dad and I kept going back and forth between two blue spruces cedars (thanks for the correction, dad!) in the woods, trying to decide which one mom would like better.   All of the sudden, we heard a deep voice from above say "That one looks good!"

Was it God?  Nope!  Just your friendly deer hunter sitting high up in a tree stand.  He had been patiently waiting for us to grab our tree and go for close to an hour!  Glad he didn't mistake us for deer!

Now to the fun part.  I did say GIVEAWAY after all!  To enter, just do the following three things: (1) Follow me on Instagram or Facebook (or both),  (2) tell me your favorite holiday tradition, and  (3) tag someone who isn't already a follower!  Enter as many times as you like - on both Instagram and Facebook - and I'll randomly generate a winner from each on Wednesday night!  The winner will receive their pick of one of the following 8x10 prints.

Can't wait to hear your family traditions!

Free 8x10 Printables

Hey ya'll! Check out the free 8x10 printables below, and if you like one - PRINT one! : ) I'd recommend you print them on cardstock paper for a cleaner look. Tag #parumpumpumpum on Instagram or Facebook so I can see where you display them! Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Interview with an Illustrator : E r i n V a u g h a n

Interview with an Illustrator : E R I N   V A U G H A N

Hi everyone! Today I'm pleased to introduce you to the lovely Erin Vaughan, a freelance illustrator currently residing in Los Angeles.  This southern Californian artist is a girl after my own heart.  I discovered her work while searching #treeart on Instagram.  Up popped her tree-laden illustrations of picturesque camping scenes and National Parks.  I. Was. Smitten.  Evoking both a sense of adventure and tranquility, her illustrations are rich, rustic and just a touch folksy.  Erin graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts from Biola University.  In addition to working with various clients, Erin sells her artwork on her ETSY shop.  (It's where you can find #8 on my Christmas wish list!)  Read on to learn more about Erin and see her delightful illustrations!

How did you get started in illustration?

As an art major, I went in as an interdisciplinary major, which allowed me to take lots of drawing, painting, illustration and design classes, pointing me in the direction of illustration. I had a lot of support from professors, classmates and family who really encouraged me in my pursuits as an illustrator.

Walk us through your technical process of completing an illustration – from start to finish.

First I will do a little research and gather images for inspiration that I use as reference material when I draw. Then I may do a few really rough compositional sketches. Next I’ll start sketching out the final drawing (in pencil) onto watercolor paper. Then I’ll do the painting in gouache and finish by outlining bits of the painting in black ink. 

Why gouache over other mediums?

I love gouache because it is perfectly in-between watercolor and acrylic. You can water it down to get that watercolor look I sometimes want, or I can add thicker layers of paint like you would an acrylic.

What are your favorite and least favorite things to draw?

I pretty much love drawing anything having to do with nature. I have really started to love drawing actual places I have been, or things that I have seen through experience. I have never liked drawing figures/people. This is mostly because it changes the whole feeling of a painting when you add in a figure. I like the viewer to be able to imagine themselves or whatever they want in the space. 

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an illustrator and how did you overcome it?

Most of the challenges I face as an illustrator have more to do with running a business and the huge learning curve that is. I have basically had to teach myself how to run a business. I am still learning everyday and adjusting things three years later. A main challenge I have had as an illustrator is confidence and comparing myself to others. No matter how many times I sit down to paint, I still get nervous before I start a new painting. I wonder whether I will be able to create something that is interesting and meaningful to people.

Can you share any good resources you may have discovered about how to run a business?

When I started my business I read this blog often that gave wonderful tips for starting a business: http://befree-lance.com.  I also like these blogs: http://neshadesigns.com/blog/23-resources-for-creative-entrepreneurs/ and http://amandagenther.com. Other good reads: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard and The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp.

What are three important qualities an illustrator must have to succeed? 

Developed Routine / Diligence
Developed Style
Developed Skill

How long did it take you to develop your own style?

I would say it’s taken me a good five to eight years. Most of that journey began in college and has continued to evolve and change through the last 3 years as a full time illustrator. I sort of think it’s a continual process.

Do you think the internet/social media has made your job easier or harder?

Both! It’s amazing how people can have access to your work all over the world. But that also means there is so much more competition, and it is so much easier for your work to get lost among so many people putting things on the Internet. I also feel like the Internet sort of takes away the sacredness of viewing an artist’s work.

What is one tip you would give to aspiring illustrators who are trying to get their work noticed?

Make tons and tons of work, and get it out there. Submit your work to blogs, post it on social media, go to events to sell your work, show your work in galleries no matter how small or quaint. Expect to be rejected sometimes. That’s part of the process. But don’t let that stop you. I have to tell myself that all the time.

What is your ultimate goal as an illustrator?

I mostly just want to keep being able to do what I’m doing. That may seem like a small goal, but it is hard to make a living in this business. I care more about getting to do what I love everyday vs. making a ton of money. So being able to make enough to just keep the business afloat is my continuing goal. But I would also like to be able to have a bigger studio, and hopefully be able to hire a couple employees to help run the production side of my shop.

Walk us through your typical day.

Most mornings (unless I go running) I get up around 7-7:30, make a cup of coffee, catch up on emails and the news, eat a little breakfast, then I get ready for the day and start work around 8:30am. Then it just depends on what’s most pressing for the day. Some days are more about creating products, so I’ll literally sit down to paint all day (with a little lunch break). I will try to throw in a little coffee break in there sometime in the afternoon. I finish work around 5pm. And then usually take my dog out to the park. I try really hard to be done at 5pm because it is so easy for people who work from home to get burnt out from working overtime. I have learned to put that boundary up with myself unless there is something just super pressing a particular day. Some days call for more business stuff that can having me doing all sorts of different tasks besides painting- packaging orders, managing finances/tax stuff, post office runs, working with my interns, photographing and styling artwork, etc.

The Great Outdoors is the primary theme in much of your work… what draws you to nature?

I feel most at peace and happy when I am outside. Seeing the details in creation make me want to create my own interpretation. I grew up traveling, road tripping and camping a lot, and continue to try to do that. So those experiences have a deep impact on my artwork.

Do you have a favorite nature/camping spot?

Pfeiffer Big Sur, State Park. Me and my extended family have been camping there every summer for over 15 years. It feels like an extension of home to me.

What is your favorite Pandora station?

I actually use Spotify. I love making my own playlists. I post a playlist every month for my followers. You can find them on my blog!

Who are your creative mentors?

I have a lot of friends who are artists that were in the art department with me throughout school that I continue to seek advice from. Periodically I will check in with former professors as well. My brother is an artist and photographer. I consider him a creative mentor too.

Do you have a favorite quote?

"Art is always the act of a whole man or woman, and no matter what form it takes - colored shapes, pulsing tones, rhymed words, stylized gesture - if it be honestly done, the art embodies heart, soul, mind and strength of the artist as he or she responds knowingly to the world of God around him." -Calvin Served, Rainbows for the Fallen World: Aesthetic Life + Artist Task

"Whether it's a painter finding his way each morning to the easel, or a medical researcher returning daily to the laboratory, the routine is as much a part of the creative process as the lightning bolt of inspiration, maybe more." -Twyla Tharp, The Creative Habit

Last question! Any other artists you think we should check out?

I'm super inspired by Wesley Bruce, Folk Fibers and Britt Bass.

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To see more of Erin's artwork, check out her website!  And don't forget to follow her on Instagram and Facebook!  Annnnd, if you'd like to see where she creates her magical illustrations, check back next week for the next Studio Spotlight! Thanks for stopping by everyone. : )

"Comparison is the thief of joy"

Isn't it funny how little things become HUGE things when you're trying to fall asleep at night?  Like trying to remember if you paid the electric bill on time - or realizing you forgot to send a birthday card....Suddenly, filling the car up with gas seems like an insurmountable chore.

Last night while I lay in bed looking at other people's artwork, I started feeling pretty discouraged.  What I saw was amazing - and what I do pales in comparison.   I turned the laptop off but shutting my mind off was much harder.  I kept thinking how there are far too many people, more talented than me and already doing what I want to do, to achieve what I want to achieve.  These people are professionals and I am an amateur.

I've been trying to illustrate as much as I can... which basically means I race downstairs to my Studio as soon as baby M goes down for a nap!  I'm trying to improve, and find my style, and uncork all that creativity that I know is in there somewhere.  I feel like time is against me.  I don't know why.  I guess because this is more than just a hobby.   I treat it like a job because that's what I want it to be.  

This morning I felt much better.  Don't get me wrong, I still doubt myself sometimes - a lot of times.   I've spent many years thinking I could never do this, and now I'm doing it - sort of - and it's scary.   Last night those thoughts were suffocating, but today, I let them drift away. 

When I wonder why my thoughts suddenly overcame me last night, I realize it started when I compared myself to other illustrators.  It's a repeating habit in my life.   I compare myself to my friends and I feel boring and unaccomplished.  I compare myself to other moms and I feel lazy and unsure.   I compare myself to other artists and I feel out of my league.  I find the best qualities in others and wonder why I can't be more __________.  (Fill in the blank.)   

But what about the best qualities in me?  "Comparison is the thief of joy," said Theodore Roosevelt.  How right he was!  And it's a spectacular waste of time too.  I don't want to be like anyone else.  I WANT TO BE ME!  Silly me. Confused me. Kind me. Impatient me. Curious me.  Strong me.   In a society that tries so hard to tell us who to be - that is accomplishment enough.